Endemic Bee Research Articles

Bee diversity and abundance in perennial irrigated crops and adjacent habitats in central Washington state

Abstract Pollinators are critical to ecosystem health and agricultural productivity. Endemic bee diversity and abundance among different crops has not been extensively studied, especially among perennial crops in Washington state. The goals of this study were to characterize bee genera diversity in south central Washington state, determine the abundance and diversity of bees among crop types, and determine if farming practices influence abundance and diversity by comparing bee diversity in managed agricultural sites to adjacent unmanaged, natural sites. This study investigated bee genera diversity and abundance in blueberry fields produced under organic certification programs, conventionally produced Concord juice and wine grape vineyards, conventionally produced spearmint and peppermint fields, and conventionally produced hopyards. The majority of bees found in the study were ground-nesting. Mint fields had the highest pollinator abundance and richness. In general, there was a greater abundance, diversity, and richness of bees found in unmanaged compared with managed sites. This indicates that areas of high agricultural intensity have relatively low bee genera abundance and diversity.

First evaluation of genetic diversity among honeybee populations in Kazakhstan

Beekeeping as a staple of agriculture in Kazakhstan is believed to have emerged when external bee colonies were introduced into the country. To date, six subspecies have been distributed across commercial apiaries (Apis mellifera sossimai, A. m. carpatica, A. m. mellifera, A. m. ligustica, A. m. caucasica, and A. m. carnica). In this study, we analyzed mitochondrial DNA from 21 geographically distinct populations with diverse subspecies composition and discovered 19 unique haplotypes belonging to C and M evolutionary lineages. Analysis of 9 microsatellite loci revealed strong polymorphism, with a range of 5 to 35 alleles at each locus. The observed heterozygosity across the populations varied from 0.2892 to 0.9099, and clustering analysis only allowed differentiation of each population based on its geographical location. High degree of admixture among subspecies was identified in every population, including a potential introgression from the endemic bee A. m. pomonella. Unregulated cross-breeding for the past 50 years has laid the foundation for the promiscuous genetic nature of honeybee populations in Kazakhstan.

Description of the male of Rediviva steineri Kuhlmann, 2012 (Hymenoptera: Melittidae), an endemic oil-collecting bee species from South Africa

We describe the male of Rediviva steineri Kuhlmann, 2012; distinguished by the shape and the margin of the apical plate of the eighth sterna and the vestiture of metasomal terga two and three. Five males were collected at the type locality of the female (Farm Doornbosch, Western Cape, South Africa). We examined the types of three other closely related species (R. pallidula, R. brunnea and R. whiteheadi) and provide images of the eighth sterna for comparison with R. steineri and update Whitehead et al.’s (2008) identification key for the males of these species.

The effects of introduction of the Sulawesi Endemic Stingless Bee Tetragonula cf. biroi from Sulawesi to Java on foraging behavior, natural enemies, and their productivity

Abstract. Suhri AGMI, Soesilohadi RCH, Agus A, Kahono S. 2021. The effects of introduction of the Sulawesi Endemic Stingless Bee Tetragonula cf. biroi from Sulawesi to Java on foraging behavior, natural enemies, and their productivity. Biodiversitas 22: 5624-5632. The existence of species in an environment has gone through a long adaptation process to the natural environment. This study aims to determine the behavior of bees, pollen types, natural enemies, and products of the Sulawesi endemic bee Tetragonula cf. biroi in its natural habitat and after being introduced to Java. This research was conducted in North Luwu and Bone District, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, as the native habitat. Purworejo, Magelang, and Bantul District in Java as an introduction site. The observation of foraging behavior was recorded by scan sampling method; pollen identification using the acetolysis method. Natural enemies were observed directly and through interviews with beekeepers. The results showed significant differences in the number of T. cf. biroi that returned to the nest between native and introduced habitats (p value < 0.05). Pollen collected by T. cf. biroi in Sulawesi were more varied in type. The woody plants and tall trees dominate the types of pollen they collect in Sulawesi. The pollen collected in Java was dominated by ornamental plants, intentionally grown as feed. The attack of Small hive beetle and black soldier flies larvae caused the colony of T. cf. biroi to die and not produce honey optimally. Another problem is the T. cf. biroi nest is taken over by the local bee Tetragonula laeviceps.

Local Actions to Tackle a Global Problem: A Multidimensional Assessment of the Pollination Crisis in Chile

In the last decades, pollinators have drastically declined as a consequence of anthropogenic activities that have local and global impacts. The food industry has been expanding intensive agriculture crops, many of them dependent on animal pollination, but simultaneously reducing native pollinator habitats. Chile is a good example of this situation. Chile is becoming an agro-alimentary powerhouse in Latin America, where intensive agriculture expansion is performed at the expense of natural lands, posing a major threat to biodiversity. Here, we discussed the drivers responsible for the decline of pollinators (including habitat loss, pesticides, invasive species, and climate change) and its synergistic effects. This is particularly critical considering that Chile is a hotspot of endemic bee species locally adapted to specific habitats (e.g., Mediterranean-type ecosystems). However, there is a lack of data and monitoring programs that can provide evidence of their conservation status and contribution to crop yields. Based on our analysis, we identified information gaps to be filled and key threats to be addressed to reconcile crop production and biodiversity conservation. Addressing the local context is fundamental to undertake management and conservation actions with global impact.

Dufourea ( Dentirophites) in Iberia, with first records of a pollen host for Dufourea lusitanica Ebmer, 1999 (Hymenoptera: Apoidea, Halictidae)

Recent study of the two Iberian species of Dentirophites has revealed a likely pollen host for the Iberian endemic bee, Dufourea lusitanica Ebmer. This suggests that both species are oligoleges of Caryophyllaceae. Photographs are provided for both species: those for D. lusitanica are believed to be the first images of the living insect.

Ensemble Models Predict Invasive Bee Habitat Suitability Will Expand under Future Climate Scenarios in Hawai'i.

Simple SummaryClimate change exacerbates the threat of biological invasions by increasing climatically suitable regions for species to invade outside of their native range. Island ecosystems may be particularly sensitive to the synergistic effects of climate change and biological invasions. In Hawai’i there are 21 non-native bees that have the capacity to spread pathogens and compete for resources with native bees. We performed an ensemble of species distribution models (SDM) for eight non-native bee species (Hymenoptera: Anthophila) in Hawai’i to predict climatically suitable niches across current and future climate scenarios. We found a significant difference in habitat suitability between SDMs that were constructed with specimen records from their native and non-native (Hawai’i) range. Although SDMs predict expansion of suitable habitat into higher elevations under 2070 climate scenarios, species-rich areas are predicted to stay below 500 m elevation. Our models can inform decisions on the management of non-native bees in Hawai’i by assessing risk of invasion into new areas around the archipelago.Climate change is predicted to increase the risk of biological invasions by increasing the availability of climatically suitable regions for invasive species. Endemic species on oceanic islands are particularly sensitive to the impact of invasive species due to increased competition for shared resources and disease spread. In our study, we used an ensemble of species distribution models (SDM) to predict habitat suitability for invasive bees under current and future climate scenarios in Hawai’i. SDMs projected on the invasive range were better predicted by georeferenced records from the invasive range in comparison to invasive SDMs predicted by records from the native range. SDMs estimated that climatically suitable regions for the eight invasive bees explored in this study will expand by ~934.8% (±3.4% SE). Hotspots for the invasive bees are predicted to expand toward higher elevation regions, although suitable habitat is expected to only progress up to 500 m in elevation in 2070. Given our results, it is unlikely that invasive bees will interact directly with endemic bees found at >500 m in elevation in the future. Management and conservation plans for endemic bees may be improved by understanding how climate change may exacerbate negative interactions between invasive and endemic bee species.

Missing for almost 100 years: the rare and potentially threatened bee, Pharohylaeus lactiferus (Hymenoptera, Colletidae)

The Australian endemic bee,Pharohylaeus lactiferus(Colletidae: Hylaeinae) is a rare species that requires conservation assessment. Prior to this study, the last published record of this bee species was from 1923 in Queensland, and nothing was known of its biology. Hence, I aimed to locate extant populations, provide biological information and undertake exploratory analyses relevant to its assessment.Pharohylaeus lactiferuswas recently rediscovered as a result of extensive sampling of 225 general and 20 targeted sampling sites across New South Wales and Queensland. Collections indicate possible floral and habitat specialisation with specimens only found near Tropical or Sub-Tropical Rainforest and only visitingStenocarpus sinuatus(Proteaceae) andBrachychiton acerifolius(Malvaceae), to the exclusion of other available floral resources. Three populations were found by sampling bees visiting these plant species along much of the Australian east coast, suggesting population isolation. GIS analyses used to explore habitat destruction in the Wet Tropics and Central Mackay Coast bioregions indicate susceptibility of Queensland rainforests andP. lactiferuspopulations to bushfires, particularly in the context of a fragmented landscape. Highly fragmented habitat and potential host specialisation might explain the rarity ofP. lactiferus. Targeted sampling and demographic analyses are likely required to thoroughly assess the status of this species and others like it.

Assessment and conservation status of an endemic bee in a diversity hotspot (Hymenoptera, Melittidae, Dasypoda)

Wild bees represent a global group of highly diversified insect pollinators, nowadays concerningly well known for their widespread observed patterns of decline. Amongst them is the genusDasypoda, a widespread Palearctic clade of solitary bees generally poorly represented in entomological collections. Among the 39 accepted species of the genus, 35 are known by both sexes, and a large number of taxa are still known by a low number of specimens. The recently described taxon Dasypoda (Heterodasypoda) michezi Radchenko, 2017 endemic to southern Portugal is just such a case. The species was described from two male specimens, but no female material has been known to date. Here, we provide the first description of the female ofD. michezi, collected close to thelocus typicusin southern Portugal along with a series of conspecific males. Sex pairing is proposed based on the sympatry of the male and female specimens and on the similar morphology of non-sexual dimorphic traits and on the barcode of a fragment of Cytochrome Oxidase I. We provide high quality imaging of both sexes ofD. michezito help future identification of the species and present a key for all known species of the subgenus Heterodasypoda. We finally propose an IUCN status forD. micheziand discuss the conservation of such geographically restricted species in the current context of global change.

Morphometric identification of the endemic Maltese honey bee (Apis mellifera ruttneri)

Apis mellifera ruttneri is the endemic honey bee subspecies of the Maltese Islands. This population is endangered by hybridization with other honey bee subspecies that are frequently imported by beekeepers. It deserves conservation because of its unique behavioral traits including adaptation to the local climate. Conservation of honey bee subspecies is not easy, because it requires the identification of unhybridized source colonies by multiple morphological measurements or by molecular analysis. We present here a new method to identify A. m. ruttneri that is reliable and easy to use by both scientists and beekeepers. We have tested the new method using 312 workers collected from flowers in 7 locations and 52 managed colonies from Malta. Those bees formed two groups. One of the groups was interpreted as unhybridized A. m. ruttneri and the other group was interpreted as hybrids between A. m. ruttneri and imported bees. The new method to identify Maltese bees can provide a useful contribution to their conservation.

Differential Foraging of Indigenous and Exotic Honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) Races on Nectar-Rich Flow in a Subtropical Ecosystem.

In the subtropics, agricultural activities such as beekeeping are greatly influenced by environmental challenges. In the desert of Central Arabia, honeybees forage on limited prairies that are affected by adverse weather conditions. Bee colonies reduce their field activities during extremely hot-dry-windy weather. This study investigated whether nectar-rich melliferous flora enhance the field activities of two honeybee subspecies, Apis mellifera jemenitica (indigenous) and A. m. carnica (exotic), despite the presence of severe weather conditions. The foraging and pollen-gathering activities of the two subspecies were evaluated on Acacia trees (Acacia gerrardii Benth.), a common subtropical, summery endemic bee plant, in the central desert of the Arabian Peninsula. The native colonies were significantly (p < 0.001) more active foragers than the exotic colonies (109 ± 4 and 49 ± 2 workers/colony/3 min, respectively). Similarly, the native colonies recruited significantly (p ˂ 0.01) more active pollen-gathering bees than the imported colonies (22 ± 1 and 7 ± 1 workers/colony/3 min, respectively). Furthermore, far more food was collected by the indigenous colonies than by the exotic colonies, and a higher portion of all field trips was allocated to pollen gathering by the indigenous bees than by the imported bees. The nectar-rich Acacia trees reduced the negative effects of hot-dry-windy weather. More research on honeybee colonies operating in the subtropical conditions of Central Arabia is needed, especially regarding heat tolerance mechanisms and effects on queen and drone fertility.

The pollen host of Panurgus meridionalis (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae)

Recent study of the Spanish endemic bee species Panurgus meridionalis Patiny, Ortiz-Sánchez &amp; Michez, 2005 has revealed the true pollen hosts to be members of the Asteraceae tribe Inuleae – species not included among previously recorded flower visits. Photographs are included, which are believed to be the first images of the living insect.

Origin and dispersal of Homalictus (Apoidea: Halictidae) across Australia, Papua New Guinea and Pacific

ABSTRACT The halictine bee genus Homalictus (Apoidea: Halictidae) is distributed broadly across south east Asia, Indonesia, Australia and the archipelagos of the Pacific. The group is well represented in the bee faunas of Australia and Papua New Guinea, but Homalictus is particularly important in the Pacific where it plays a keystone pollination role as the only endemic bee group in many islands. Understanding the origin and radiation of this genus is therefore important for understanding plant-bee co-evolution, not only in the Pacific, but the greater Oceania region. Previous studies have suggested that Homalictus has an Australian origin, and then dispersed northwards, but this is yet to be phylogenetically examined. Here we combine DNA sequences from the mitochondrial COI gene from Homalictus species from Papua New Guinea, the Pacific and Australia to infer the geographical and climatic origins of this group and subsequent dispersal events. Our results indicate a tropical origin for Homalictus in Australia, followed by multiple dispersals into the Pacific and subtropical, temperate and arid Australia. A tropical origin for Homalictus not only indicates the likely dispersal corridors for the ancestor of the group but has important implications for understanding social evolution in halictine bees.

Climate change and invasive species: a physiological performance comparison of invasive and endemic bees in Fiji.

Anthropogenic climate change and invasive species are two of the greatest threats to biodiversity, affecting the survival, fitness and distribution of many species around the globe. Invasive species are often expected to have broad thermal tolerance, be highly plastic, or have high adaptive potential when faced with novel environments. Tropical island ectotherms are expected to be vulnerable to climate change as they often have narrow thermal tolerance and limited plasticity. In Fiji, only one species of endemic bee, Homalictus fijiensis, is commonly found in the lowland regions, but two invasive bee species, Braunsapis puangensis and Ceratina dentipes, have recently been introduced into Fiji. These introduced species pollinate invasive plants and might compete with H. fijiensis and other native pollinators for resources. To test whether certain performance traits promote invasiveness of some species, and to determine which species are the most vulnerable to climate change, we compared the thermal tolerance, desiccation resistance, metabolic rate and seasonal performance adjustments of endemic and invasive bees in Fiji. The two invasive species tended to be more resistant to thermal and desiccation stress than H. fijiensis, while H. fijiensis had greater capacity to adjust their CTmax with season, and H. fijiensis females tended to have higher metabolic rates than B. puangensis females. These findings provide mixed support for current hypotheses for the functional basis of the success of invasive species; however, we expect the invasive bees in Fiji to be more resilient to climate change because of their increased thermal tolerance and desiccation resistance.

Revision of the Australian bee fly genus Sisyromyia White, 1916 (Bombyliidae, Bombyliinae, Acrophthalmydini).

We review Sisyromyia White (Bombyliidae, Bombyliinae), a remarkable Australian endemic bee fly genus, which includes 11 species, including six species we describe as new here: Sisyromyia albisquama sp. nov., Sisyromyia angustivitta sp. nov., Sisyromyia elongata sp. nov., Sisyromyia maculipennis sp. nov., Sisyromyia umbra sp. nov., Sisyromyia vittata sp. nov. The genus can be easily distinguished from other Australian genera in the subfamily by having a one-segmented antennal flagellum, subapex of flagellum with some long hairs; a pale median stripe present on the abdomen consisting of dense, decumbent short scales, cell r5 open; cell br nearly as long as cell bm, crossvein m-m located on base of cell dm; crossvein m-m long, nearly as long as crossvein r-m. We also recognized one new synonym, and propose a new combination for Sisyromyia binghi Evenhuis. A key to species of Sisyromyia is provided, and we extensively illustrate their internal and external morphology.

Bees and flowers: How to feed an invasive beetle species.

Invasive species may exploit a wide range of food sources, thereby fostering their success and hampering mitigation, but the actual degree of opportunism is often unknown. The small hive beetle (SHB), Aethina tumida, is a parasite of honeybee colonies endemic to sub‐Saharan Africa. SHBs have now spread on all habitable continents and can also infest colonies of other social bees. To date, the possible role of solitary bee nests as alternative hosts is unknown. Similarly, flowers as possible alternative food sources are not well understood. Here, we show that SHBs can complete an entire life cycle in association with nests of solitary bees Megachile rotundata. The data also show that flowers can serve as alternative food sources. These results support the opportunistic nature of this invasive species, thereby generating further obstacles for mitigation efforts in the field. It also suggests that SHB invasions may result in more serious consequences for endemic bee fauna than previously thought. This provides further motivation to slow down the global spread of this pest, and to improve its management in areas, where it is established.

A recipe for weed disaster in islands: a super-generalist native pollinator aided by a ‘Parlourmaid’ plant welcome new arrivals in Fiji

In isolated islands with low pollinator diversity, it has been suggested that native pollinators should evolve into super-generalists that could facilitate the spread of exotic plant species that might otherwise rely on specialist pollinators. Consequently, in the absence of exotic pollinators isolated islands may still be particularly vulnerable to a wide variety of introduced plants. Fiji has a highly abundant and diverse introduced plant fauna, as well as a variety of introduced bee species, but has extremely low endemic bee fauna diversity. We examined bee–plant pollination networks in lowland regions of Viti Levu (Fiji) where there is only one endemic bee species, Homalictus fijiensis. We show that this bee is a super-generalist for introduced plants, and whilst introduced bee species can show high intensities of floral visits, they do not substantially increase the breadth of weeds receiving bee visits. Surprisingly, one introduced plant species, Sphagneticola trilobata, receives high visitations from introduced bee species, even though it spreads vegetatively. We regard this species as a ‘Parlourmaid’ weed that likely augments the spread of exotic bees without gaining pollination benefits. Our results indicate a ‘twofold’ promotion of invasive species, namely, super-generalist native pollinators can promote the spread of diverse introduced plants, and Parlourmaid plants provide resources that can promote the spread of introduced pollinators.

Low endemic bee diversity and very wide host range in lowland Fiji: support for the pollinator super-generalist hypothesis in island biogeography

The success of invading plants in island ecosystems has often been inferred to result from ‘invader complexes’, where cointroduced plants and their specialist pollinators can reciprocally enhance each other’s spread. However, it has also been suggested that in islands with low pollinator diversity, those pollinators should evolve into super-generalists that may be able to pollinate a wide range of exotic plants, enabling the spread of exotic weeds. Fiji has a very depauperate endemic bee fauna and previous studies have suggested that its only lowland bee species, Homalictus fijiensis (Apoidea: Halictidae), has a very wide range of host plants. However, those studies only included a small number of endemic flowering plants. Our study expands observations of bee–flower interactions to explore host plant ranges of H. fijiensis and introduced bee species to include a wider variety of native and introduced plant species. We show that H. fijiensis does have a wider host range than introduced bees, including Apis mellifera (Apoidea: Apidae), and an ability to exploit extrafloral nectaries and poricidal anthers that are not utilised by the introduced bee species. Our results support the hypothesis that super-generalism can evolve in islands where pollinator diversity is low, and that this may make those islands susceptible to weed invasions.

One hundred years of solitude ended: A second species of Marmasoma White, 1916 (Diptera, Bombyliidae, Bombyliinae, Eclimini) from Australia.

Known as a monotypic genus for over a century, Marmasoma White, 1916 is an endemic Australian bee fly genus belonging to the tribe Eclimini of the subfamily Bombyliinae. A new species: Marmasoma hortorum sp. nov. is described based on a series of specimens from Western Australia and South Australia. This new species can be easily distinguished from the congener by the inconspicuous pale wing markings and mostly white to pale yellow scales on the body, as well as characters of both male and female genitalia. M. sumptuosum is found in south-eastern Australia, including Tasmania, and some specimens have been collected on Kangaroo Island, South Australia. M. hortorum sp. nov. occurs in south Western Australia, and a pair of specimens has been taken just north of Port Augusta in South Australia. A key to species of Marmasoma is provided.

Pleistocene climate changes shaped the population structure of Partamona seridoensis (Apidae, Meliponini), an endemic stingless bee from the Neotropical dry forest.

Partamona seridoensis is an endemic stingless bee from the Caatinga, a Neotropical dry forest in northeastern Brazil. Like other stingless bees, this species plays an important ecological role as a pollinator. The aim of the present study was to investigate the genetic structure and evolutionary history of P. seridoensis across its current geographic range. Workers from 84 nests from 17 localities were analyzed for COI and Cytb genic regions. The population structure tests (Bayesian phylogenetic inference, AMOVA and haplotype network) consistently characterized two haplogroups (northwestern and eastern), with little gene flow between them, generating a high differentiation between them as well as among the populations within each haplogroup. The Mantel test revealed no isolation by distance. No evidence of a potential geographic barrier in the present that could explain the diversification between the P. seridoensis haplogroups was found. However, Pleistocene climatic changes may explain this differentiation, since the initial time for the P. seridoensis lineages diversification took place during the mid-Pleistocene, specifically the interglacial period, when the biota is presumed to have been more associated with dry conditions and had more restricted, fragmented geographical distribution. This event may have driven diversification by isolating the two haplogroups. Otherwise, the climatic changes in the late Pleistocene must not have drastically affected the population dynamics of P. seridoensis, since the Bayesian Skyline Plot did not reveal any substantial fluctuation in effective population size in either haplogroup. Considering its importance and the fact that it is an endemic bee from a very threatened Neotropical dry forest, the results herein could be useful to the development of conservation strategies for P. seridoensis.